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Ginger - "the universal medicine"

It is no surprise to see in the market today so many digestive and dietary aids for stomach, along with pills for gas and indigestion. Over 90% of Americans suffer from everyday digestion problems such as gas, bloating, stomach pain, constipation, heartburn, and fatigue after eating. Ayurveda- an alternative medicine- provides simple solutions to these common complaints by considering not only what we eat, but also how we consume our meals and how we digest it. The act of eating is life giving. Spices are "Special Foods which enhances the taste of the food, improve the digestion and have many medicinal properties.

Ginger is perhaps the best and most Sattvic of the spices; no wonder it is called as "Vishvabheshaja", the universal medicine.

Ginger:

English name:
Ginger
Botanical name:
Zingiber Officinale
Chinese name:
Gan Jiang (dry)
Shen Jiang (Fresh)
Sanskrit name:
Sunthi / Nagara (dry)
Ardraka (Fresh)
Part used: Rhizome
Tissues: Works on all tissue level

        It has strong pungent taste with sweet post digestive effect. It has hot potency. It is used in many herbal and food preparations.
        It is an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic (prevents blood clots), anti-depressant, anti-diarrhea (stops loose motions), and anti-toxidants. It is used for multiple symptoms like nausea, vomiting, headache, chest-pain, colds, stomach-pains, rheumatism, and nervous system disorder. It also has anti-cancer activity.
        Spices are really best eaten as food rather than in capsule. You should sprinkle spices on your food, add them while cooking.

Fresh Ginger as a medicine-

Fatigue after eating - This may be result of weak digestion. To improve digestion means to stimulate digestive fire before we begin eating. So Ayurveda recommends eating one-inch piece of fresh ginger with few drops of lemon juice and few pinches of salt on it before full meal.

For Cough and Cold - 1 tsp. of fresh ginger juice + 1 tsp. Honey. Take it 3 times a day.

Loss of Appetite - 5 tbsp. chopped fresh ginger in a glass jar. Cover ginger with lemon juice; add a pinch of salt and 1 tbsp. of Cumin seeds. Put jar in the sun for 2 days. Take ½ tsp. before meals.

Stomachache - Boil 1tsp. chopped ginger in 1 cup of water, add pinch of salt and drink.

Nausea and Flatulence - Mix ½ tsp. ginger juice + 1 tsp. Lime juice + 1 tsp. mint juice and 1 tbsp. Honey. Take twice daily.

Dry Ginger as a medicine-

        Dried ginger is hotter and drier than fresh. Dried ginger imparts zest to vegetables and lentils. Add with other spices during cooking or sauté in Ghee (clarified butter) and add to dishes. It has a very concentrated flavor and a little goes a long way. It is used extensively baking and in desserts in combination with other spices such as Cinnamon or Nutmeg.
        Dried ginger combines well with a multitude of Ayurvedic apices such as turmeric, cayenne, cumin, coriander, fennel and Cinnamon.
        Substitute ¼ tsp. ginger power for one thin slice of fresh ginger.

Diarrhea - 1tsp. dry ginger + ½ tsp. Ghee (Clarified butter) +1tsp. Jaggery. Heat the mixture and lick it several times a day.

Headache due to common cold - Apply warm paste of dry ginger and calamus on forehead and nose.

For digestion in infants - Boil a glass of milk and add pinch of ginger power.

For joint pain, constipation and nervous debility - Drink warm water mixed with 1tsp. ginger power and ½ tsp. of Turmeric.

The health is maintained through the observation of proper diet, lifestyle and exercise habits. Proper diet and life style changes make your immune system very strong, so you can combat any dis-ease process and stay healthy.

"Make the right choice! Don't let your medicine be your food, let your food be your medicine"!